{ Our Elf }

A Christmas package from Florida arrived this week.

One of the gifts was The Elf on the Shelf!

I've heard of so many people doing this with their children and am so excited to begin this tradition with our family.

In case you don't know about the Elf, here's the short version of the story. It is a storybook that comes with a little elf. This elf belongs to your family. Each morning he is found somewhere in your house after he has made a trip to Santa while you sleep at night to tell him if you've been good that day. Often he gets into some kind of mischief in your house (makes a little mess) or does something funny. You can talk to him, tell him what you'd like him to tell Santa, what you want for Christmas, etc. but you cannot touch him or he will lose his magic. So wherever you found him that morning is where he stays all day until you go to sleep at night. Then he magically goes to visit Santa and he is back by the next morning.

And the first time you see him you have to quickly choose a name for him.

So, we read the story to the little ones on Thursday before naptime. And when they woke up from their nap, the elf had made a big mess in the bathroom.

When Curly woke up she noticed the mess and said, "Someone made a big mess in here." We told her we were wondering if it was her because she was the last one in the bathroom and she said, "I think it was my brother!" Then she looked up and there he was hanging on the light........

Oh how I wish I had the video camera ready to record her!

She was smiling and kept saying, "He is here! He really did come" and clapping her hands a few times here and there. And "he made such a mess that little stinker! And look he has blue eyes just like you! He is SO cute!" Then suddenly she realized we needed to name him and she blurted out Jiminy Cricket. She was dead set on that name. It was Jiminy Cricket NOT Cricket but the full name. No kidding, she stood there for about 10 minutes going on and on about him and smiling. It was priceless!

Then she didn't want to leave him in the bathroom alone and said we needed to leave the light on for him. She introduced the dog to him and just sat in there smiling and watching him.

She took a book into the bathroom and sat down and read him the story of Rapunzel. She wanted to be sure to show her brother when he woke up and make sure he knew not to touch it. She kept telling him, "You can't touch him or he will lose his magic." Little Brother noticed him way up there and was saying hi in all kinds of cute voices and tilting his head and waving.

I overheard her telling him later, "Tonight we have to get right to sleep when it's time for bed so the elf can go see Santa. Okay?"

I'll keep you posted on what the little elf is up to int he coming days!

This is going to be FUN!!!